Match-safe.



PATENTED MAY 17, 1904.

(I. H. MILLSAPS. MATCH SAFE APPLIUATIOK FILED OCT. 7. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 1'7, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,232, dated May 1'7, 1904.

Application filed October '7, 1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON I-I. MILLSAPS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in matchsafes, and has for an object, among others, to provide a novel construction for securing the friction-strip upon which to ignite thematches; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a match-safe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on about line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the carrier for the friction-strip.

Most if not all match-boxes are provided with a portion upon which to strike the match and which can be readily removed for application to any position where it is desiredto strike the match.

The case or box Aof the safe has the curved front B, provided at a suitable point with the strike-opening (J, within which the match may be struck in igniting the same in the use of the invention. This opening C is shown elongated in a horizontal direction, and the box A has on opposite sides of the curved front B the flat wings B, on the inner sides of which adjacent to the edges of the curved front B, I provide the vertically-elongated keepers or grooves D for the carrier E for the friction-strip. This carrier is curved to coincide With the curved front B and is provided at its ends with the seats F for the ends of the friction-strip G and is provided beyond said seats F with the extensions H, which fit in the keepers or grooves D and secure the carrier with the friction-strip in place so such strip will be exposed through the strike-opening G in the curved front of the box. By preference the carrier E is made of spring metal and is returned at its ends to form the seats F and has the extensions H projecting as shown in Fig. 3. In this construction the springstrip at the juncture of the returned portion Serial Nor 176,069. (No model.)

i f with the extension His pressed closely at f against the curved. or main portion of the carrier, so it will exert a grip or pressure upon the friction-strip in such manner as to clamp the strip andhold it within the carrier.

In operation the carrier may be removed from the box or case A and the friction-strip G, which may be simply the portion of the match-box provided for striking the matches, be fitted at its ends in the seats F and clamped at by the returned portion f of the carrierstrip and the carrier be then applied to the box so that the friction-strip will be exposed through the opening C in the curved front of the safe. In applying and removing the carrierE the returned portions form convenient projections to be grasped by the operator, so that the insertion and removal of the carrier with the friction-strip in place may be easily accomplished.

By my invention the friction-strip can be conveniently removed whenever desired or necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- 1. The improvement in match-safes herein described comprising the box or case having a curved portion provided with an opening through which the matches may be struck and with flat wings on opposite sides of the curved portion and provided on the inner faces of said flat wings adjacent to the curved portion with upright guides or keepers, the carrier of spring metal having its ends returned forming seats for the friction-strip and having said returned portions. brought close to the' main or body portion of the carrier whereby to form spring-clamps for securing the friction-strip and having extensions beyond said returned portion for engagement with the guides or keepers in the box or case, the main portion of the carrier being curved to coincide with the curved portion of the box, and the friction-strip fitting at its ends in the seats of the carrier and held by the spring-clamps or returned portions substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a match-safe of a curved portion provided with an opening through which to strike the matches and keepto said curved portion and the carrier for a friction-strip having a main portion, returned portions at the ends thereof forming seats for the ends of a friction-strip and extensions be- 5 yond said seats to engage with the keepers of 1 the box or case substantially as set forth.

JEFFERSON H. MILLSAPS.

Witnesses:

Some: 0. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

